LABOUR’S MANIFESTO TO PROTECT LOCAL PUBS
Blog / April 16, 2010 / Comment now
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is an independent consumer group which campaigns to protect community pubs and small brewers across the UK and Europe. I’m proud to be backing CAMRA’s Charter at this General Election as Labour PPC for Easington and currently I am the only candidate in Easington to do so. You can read the charter here.
The current market situation in the pub and brewing industry is one that sees the four largest global brewers controlling over 80% of the market. This market dominance allows large pub companies to operate a “beer tie” that forces pubs to buy from a limited range of beer at prices inflated by up to 40%. Although the closure of pubs in the UK is often blamed on government and the taxation of alcohol it is clear that the industry itself could do a lot more to make the pub trade fairer for licensees and consumers and give pubs a better chance of survival during difficult economic times.
However, CAMRA’s Charter does also set out how government can make the system fairer for responsible community pubs. I would like to see a tax system that differentiated between the community pubs that promote responsible drinking such as those in Easington and the so called ‘super-pubs’ often a feature of town or city centres that offer cheap booze and encourage binge drinking. Furthermore, I want to see an end to supermarkets selling alcohol as a ‘loss-leader’ to encourage shoppers through the door, where the supermarket actually sells alcohol at a loss. Such practices leave little chance for fair competition between the pub trade and shops.
The Labour Party Manifesto contains a number of pledges in relation to protecting the pub trade. CAMRA has recognised that Labour’s commitments have the potential to create a freer UK pub market with a competitive environment which would benefit consumers. The government needs to take action to improve the range of beer and quality pubs in our communities through fairer competition rules. Action on this front will assist the industry in creating a fairer market place and lower prices for consumers.
I was born and raised in this constituency and have lived here all of my life. I understand that good quality pubs and social clubs play an important role at the heart of our communities. Responsible pubs allow people of all ages to socialise, enjoy good quality low alcoholic drinks responsibly and are often a place for vulnerable and older residents to relax and meet friends. It is clear to me from talking to constituents like those in Old Shotton, who are concerned about the impact of the closure of the George on the outskirts of Peterlee, that many pubs are a social hub especially for smaller more isolated communities.
The Labour Party has recognised that too many pubs owned by pub holding companies have closed that could have been sustained by local people. Therefore in our manifesto we have set out plans to support pubs to stay open through community ownership in 2010-11 and by promoting the use of community shares that support investment in pubs. Labour is committed to protecting “the places where people come together” through practical solutions such as making it much more difficult to demolish pubs or change their use. There are further commitments to stop pub companies placing restrictions on property sales. The next Labour government would also make it easier for pubs to provide related services such as music and entertainment without the need for separate licenses.
Labour has also pledged to change the beer-tie practice, mentioned above, which is commonly used by the large pub companies to extort from hardworking licensees. Labour is committed to act if the industry fails to make progress on this issue. Labour’s recent appointment of a Pubs Minister John Healey illustrates how saving the local pub has moved up the political agenda.
Grahame Morris with Terry Jones, Vice Chair of Peterlee PubWatch
It is also important that our local pubs and clubs are safe places where people can have confidence that they can enjoy an evening without fear of violence or inappropriate drunken or anti-social behaviour. I am a keen supporter of our local PubWatch and have attended a number of local meetings in Peterlee. The system operates in practice in East Durham where landlords can come together on a regular basis with the police and local authority. These meetings allow landlords to exchange information between one another and local agencies and where troublemakers can be identified, the Watch can vote to exclude them from all the pubs in the area for a time limited period or indefinitely.
Reversing the number of pub closures will require a range of measures at the international, national and local level and as Labour has recognised we need action to be taken by government, by the brewing and pub industry itself and by individuals and communities at a local level. Only by working together can the multitude of difficulties facing pubs be overcome. As a staunch defender of the community spirit and social life that is exemplified by all our quality pubs in East Durham and around the country I am pleased to be standing on Labour’s manifesto that will give real support to the pub trade.
